In my email inbox I received the weekly email from Architectural Record. I was intrigued with this weeks email because almost all of the articles had a preservation slant. While none of them directly relate to Mississippi, I thought they would be worthy of sharing and maybe help us look a building closer to home in a new light. Here they are in no particular order for your clicking pleasure.
The Rise and Fall of Penn Station
This article is about a new documentary on the venerable rail station whose demise started the modern preservation movement. The article is an interesting critique on the documentary, the lament is mostly over the fact that the piece is too short to properly cover all the aspects the subject matter requires. The documentary The Rise and Fall of Penn Station will air on MPB at 8:00pm Tuesday, February 18, 2014.
Second Lives for Old Structures.
This article is a review of Columbia University professor and historic preservation expert Françoise Bollack new book Old Buildings, New Forms. The review includes the great quote “an old building is not an obstacle but rather a foundation for continued action.” I’m not familiar with the projects named in the book but the quote make me intrigued enough to want to seek out the book.
A Structure Commits the Crime of Falling out of Style.
200 California San Francisco, California from Google Maps accessed 02-15-2014
This article is actually a reprint from the San Francisco Chronicle by their urban design critic John King. I found it interesting because it highlights a post modern building constructed in 1989 (photo right) that is being remodeled by a new owner who is removing many of the character defining features of this structure. The postmodern edifice might not be at the hight of fashion currently but the author ponders if the changes might be too short-sighted and not in the buildings best interest.
This data sheet showing data compiled by McGraw Hill Dodge Analytics shows that while nationally renovation work will be strong, renovation work in the South is predicted to level off. Clicking on the graph will link to the full report which gives more insight.
A Former Nazi Bunker Repurposed.
This article highlights a WW2 era air raid shelter / anti-aircraft battery’s adaptive reuse. Some of the photos really don’t give the massive structure justice, but this was a creative reuse project for sure.
MoMA Defends Decision to Raze Folk Art Building At Public Forum.
If you haven’t yet heard of this controversy regarding the MoMAs decision to demolish the former Folk Art Museum, it’s certainly worth catch up on. Only built in 2001 the design is heralded by many architects who are making well-reasoned arguments against its demolition. I see many of the same arguments that us preservationists use to save historic structures being used and also some new and creative arguments that us preservationists might find good to keep in our back pockets. It is definitely worth reading the comment section of this article.
If you know of an article that is worthy of sharing please let us know! Happy reading.
Categories: Asides, Historic Preservation, Recent Past
Preservation in Mississippi 
it’s too bad that niemann marcus didn’t have remodeling anxiety before they changed the old city of paris building into now out-of-fashion post modernism.
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Wow that was quite the drastic change. I don’t mind the redesign, but it is criminal to do that to an existing building.
Being unfamiliar with the building I had to look it up. This link has some great photos and other National Register information. Plus I like how they described the insertion of the rotunda in the new building as “now that we’ve whacked Grandma, let’s wear her jewelry!”
http://www.noehill.com/sf/landmarks/nat1975000471.asp
I believe that a well cared for structure will always be in style. but it takes someone appreciating a building to make sure it gets the proper care. This LoPoMo bank and really all background buildings of any era rarely get attention until someone does something regrettable to them.
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